Toaday's tip find: Ti Raleigh 753 'Quiz of the day'

[legrandefromage]

another divers helmet stop on the top tube!
Looks like different forks tho, so originality is lost.

I wasnt going to pi## on your bonfire, but Id keep the merckx and dump the raleigh. That seat cluster was notorious for coming apart. I personally know of 2 people who had this happen. One was a shop stock 531 and another guy had a 753 SP one who's went twice (so 3 instances in total). In fairness to raleigh tho, they never quibbled and the SP guy always got a fresh respray in his choice of colours.

I know the forks are gash but...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/REYNOLDS-531-FORK ... 240%3A1318

 

[retrojon]

Looking at the Reynolds catalogue, 753 is listed as 28mm 22/28SB, so 28 is 0.376mm, giving a 27.2mm seat post.

531SL 851 looks more likely, 28mm OD, 22/24SB would work out around 26.8

 

[hamster]

That seat cluster was notorious for coming apart.

Tony Oliver in his book on framebuilding says that shot-in stays like that are really only suitable on TT frames...because they weren't exactly robust.

 

[one-eyed_jim]

Looking at the Reynolds catalogue, 753 is listed as 28mm 22/28SB, so 28 is 0.376mm, giving a 27.2mm seat post.

531SL 851 looks more likely, 28mm OD, 22/24SB would work out around 26.8

You could be right, but here's a documented 1980 753 frame with a 26.8mm post:

http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/v/Pet ... n/album94/

and the (later) documents here describe 753 as having a 0.5mm seat tube wall:

http://www.equusbicycle.com/bike/reynol ... -sizes.jpg

http://www.equusbicycle.com/bike/reynol ... ochure.jpg

 

[one-eyed_jim]

Tony Oliver in his book on framebuilding says that shot-in stays like that are really only suitable on TT frames...because they weren't exactly robust.

Seemed to work OK for Ritchey. I know plenty of Ritcheys break, but I haven't seen many broken there.

 

[retrojon]

and the (later) documents here describe 753 as having a 0.5mm seat tube wall:

Well that's no good! 0.5mm is the same as 531.

Is 753 always silver soldered? Perhaps scratching a bit of paint off might reveal more.

I propose it is cut into pieces for further examination.

 

[one-eyed_jim]

Is 753 always silver soldered?

Yes, or at least it should be. But there's nothing to stop 531 being silver soldered either.

 

[Old Ned]

Dave Marsh (who is one of the top experts on Raleigh SB frames having worked there) told me that 753 was 26.8 and 531 was 27.2.

You could ring him at his shop and ask his opinion.

 

[legrandefromage]

would there be any clues in the serial number?

 

[fiks]

If you can weigh the frame, that might give a clue whether it’s 531 or 753.